OAK HILL, Ohio (Dec. 28, 2011)—OTR tire retreader H&H Industries Inc. is spending more than $2 million to expand capacity and add manufacturing capabilities at its Oak Hill facility, adding 3,500 square feet of space to house production equipment acquired throughout the latter half of 2011.
The expansion, slated for completion by February, will create about 30 jobs, according to Noah Hickman, president, and boost the size of facilities under roof to 70,000 square feet.
Among the new equipment is:
—A TRM model XEM 3800 computer-controlled inflatable builder capable of building OTR retreads in sizes ranging from 14.00X24 up to 63 inch tires;
—An Erie Mills 2000 PSI, 1,018-ton mold press for producing precured OTR tread rubber in sizes for making 20.5, 23.5, 26.5, 29.5, 24.00X35, 27.00X49, 35/65X33, 33.00X51 and 57-inch retreads, to compliment the “Continuum” precure product by Bridgestone;
—An “Earth Scan” ultrasound non-intrusive tire inspection machine capable of scanning tires in rim sizes ranging from 25 to 63 inches;
—An IMS Fabrication Inc. CNC grooving machine capable of sculpting tread patterns into OTR retreads of 24- to 51-inch rim diameters; and
Two reconditioned Akron buffer/builders for solid and foam fill retreading.
Hickman called 2011 “one of the most, if not the most, rewarding years in our near 40-year history” and said the current investment program reflects the firm's tradition of re-investing.
Ken Daniels, CEO and vice president, said the investment will help H&H cut production time to provide faster order turnaround times as well as enhance capacity.